EVEN the Attorney-General can have a bad day in court.
For Jeremy Mathews, the star witness in Western Court yesterday, it began with the claim that he was not qualified for the job, and got worse when his underpants - white - went on display.
The underpants, along with Mr Mathews' suit, tie, shirt and vest, were submitted in plastic bags as exhibits in the case against Wong Kwai-nam, 28, who was alleged to have thrown a cup of ink over the Attorney-General in an attack outside the Legislative Council.
Speaking under caution after his arrest, Mr Wong had said he had done it because Mr Mathews had ''betrayed justice'' and was not qualified to be Attorney-General.
Wong, who dismissed his defence counsel because of a claimed failure to follow instructions, admitted throwing the ink, but he pleaded not guilty yesterday to common assault at Jackson Road, Central, on March 23.
The question of Mr Mathews' worth as the territory's chief law officer went unconsidered. Magistrate Paul Kelly ruled that motive was irrelevant to a conviction, and found Wong guilty on the basis of his admission.
Wong, cross-examining Mr Mathews earlier, asked whether he had felt ashamed as he was hit by the ink. Mr Mathews said he had not.